Just Crushed Winter 2024 Newsletter

Winery Review

Now at the tail end of Vintage 2024, and Mother Nature has kept us on our toes!

Our first fruit for the year - Hunter Valley Chardonnay - made its way into the winery just three days into the New Year; an entire month ahead of the same parcel of fruit in 2023.

At the time of writing, a large portion of our 2024's are now resting in barrel, and our aromatic whites are inching towards the bottle. In fact, our 2024 Varietal Hunter Valley Verdelho has now been bottled, so keep an eye out!

Hunter Valley Chardonnays are exhibiting incredible structure and length, and Semillons are absolutely shining with clean and vibrant aromatics, textural complexity and nuance.

On the red front, we're seeing a universal theme of concentration and richness of flavour - complex and generous fruit profiles are framed by focussed tannins. I'm really excited to track the progress of these in barrel - there's big potential here.

With vintage behind us we're now focussing on packing all our wines away for the winter, and making the finishing touches on all our exciting new releases.

Cheers,

Nick

Kruger Winemaker

We are so happy to share that the past 6 months at the Wine Club has been very busy and exciting.

We kicked off the event calendar year with a wonderful lunch at Orso Bayside. It was a great day with beautiful waterfront views, and it was so nice to see all our Wine Club members again. We enjoyed some beautiful wines matched with a special menu the chef put together for us!!

We have some new wines being released and we are excited to see the Alternate Series coming back - keep a look out for Fiano, Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo and Barbera.

We are looking forward to our annual Harvest Lunches at Muse Restaurant, please join us for the festivities as tickets are selling fast and we don’t want you to miss out!! We hope to see you there.

from the Wine Club Crew: Shaz, Susie and Mark

XXX

Cheers to all our Members !

characteristics Regional Shiraz

By Nick Kruger Winemaker

Shiraz is often referred to as the quintessential Australian red, and its easy to see why. Sometimes bold and brooding, while other examples are bright, fresh and playful. The oftentimes mercurial nature of Shiraz is what makes it so intriguing. We pride ourselves in celebrating the diverse and multifaceted nature of Shiraz, and our uniquely individual estate-grown sites were considerately planted with the intention of allowing their respective sites to express themselves.

The famous Terra Rossa soils of our Wrattonbully site, rich in limestone and flanked by ancient beach dunes are perfectly suited for producing Shiraz of intense concentration and richness, while the cool growing conditions allow for finesse and structure.

Altitude is another significant factor to consider when growing winegrapes - our Shiraz planting in the Orange region is situated on Mount Canobolas, over

800 metres above sea level. The cold conditions at this altitude are conducive to producing elegant Shiraz bursting with floral aromatics and sweet, supple fruits, and of course the ancient volcanic soils on this site provide our wines with an intriguing complexity.

Our prized Hunter Valley vineyard is incredibly unique in many ways. Situated at the foothills of Mount View and comprised of a number of sub-valleys, we were able to strategically plant our Shiraz in various locations of high and low altitude and varying sun exposure. To compliment this diversity, the soil profile is distinctly varied; rich in limestone, Terra Rossa and alluvial sands. This novel combination allows us to produce remarkable medium-bodied Shiraz of bright red fruits and fine, savoury tannins.

It goes without saying that we're incredibly proud of the Shiraz that we produce, and we're exceedingly fortunate to be the custodians of such important land - land which allows us to produce Shiraz which simply cannot be emulated.

All about Shiraz

By Dave Hewit National & Global Sales Manager

What is Shiraz?

This grape thrives in moderate to warm climates, but it’s increasingly found in cooler regions. The typical flavours of Australian Shiraz are spice, blue fruit, black fruit and pepper. If a winemaker is looking to produce a full-bodied style, then you can expect rich, ripe and intense fruit flavours, while cooler styles lean more towards medium-bodied and spicy.

Historically, Max Schubert (the creator of Penfolds Grange) fundamentally changed the way Australian winemakers approach Shiraz. He kick-started the process of using juice run-off and open vats to regulate the temperature of ferments and added cooler-grown, higher-acid grapes to give the Shiraz freshness, vibrancy and that deep colour.

Origins of Shiraz

Nowadays, Shiraz is planted and grown all over the world. But its first recorded appearance was in the Isere district of the Rhone-Alps region of France, where it was the offspring of the red grape dureza and the white grape mondeuse blanche.

Until the first Shiraz cuttings were brought to Australia in 1832 by viticulturist James Busby, the northern Rhone was the only region where the grape was grown. There, it was the exclusive red grape in Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.

For many years, Hermitage was taken to Bordeaux for blending. In fact, the wines that read “Hermitage” sold for higher prices than their unblended siblings. Its reputation was building.

Towards the end of the 19th century, English connoisseur George Saintsbury declared that “Hermitage is the manliest wine I have ever drunk”.

How to pair food with Shiraz

Shiraz or Syrah can handle big and intense dishes such as slow-cooked lamb shanks with roast potatoes, a home-cooked roast and even rich pastas (like truffle and porcini pasta). And if it goes on the barbecue, it's likely to pair well with Shiraz (try scotch fillet or grilled eggplant). The ideal serving temperature for Shiraz is 16–18 degrees.

2 of our famous Shiraz regions

Hunter Valley | Hunter Valley Shiraz is often praised for its elegant structure, balanced acidity, and fine, supple tannins, making it a sought-after choice for wine enthusiasts seeking depth and complexity. The palate is rich, ripe, savoury and soft, with upfront fruit flavours of red fruits such as cranberry and alpine strawberry. The mid palate is gamey with hints of black pepper and charred meat. The back palate is soft, dry and long in true Hunter Shiraz style.

Wrattonbully | This region is part of the Limestone Coast so possesses the highly prized terra rossa soils. The quality of their reds especially is rivalling those of the more famous Coonawarra. Its marginally warmer climate results in slightly earlier ripening, yielding fruit with intense flavour and colour. The Wrattonbully Shiraz displays the rare combination of power and elegance. A complex expression of abundant sweet fruit flavours of honeysuckle, passionfruit skins and rose that retains a good balance and surprisingly supple tannins.

2013 Museum Wines

Celebrating our epic results in the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion

Pepper Tree Wines is the home to the Hunter Valley's most impressive selection of Museum Wines.

Over 2 days in late March, we celebrated these outstanding results with an exclusive tasting event at the Cellar Door, hosted by our Winemaker Nick Kruger.

Those in attendence were able to sample a selection of these top-rated wines, alongside their more youthful counterparts.

Hey my name is Patrick and I have loved being here at Pepper Tree working my first vintage in the Hunter Valley. I’ve made the trek all the way from Adelaide where I recently completed my bachelor degree in viticulture and Oenology. I ventured over with my Cairn terrier Evie who has also made herself at home in the winery and cellar door. Outside of the cellar I enjoy getting out and about and exploring new places and spending some time in Sydney. I’m extremely excited to continue my winemaking journey at Pepper Tree where I look forward to working with Nick and the rest of the team, I can’t wait for the opportunities ahead.

I'm a Brisbane-born wine enthusiast who's been on quite the journey. Started slingin' vino in 2017 in a London wine bar where my passion for the grape really blossomed. Now I'm almost finished a Bachelor of Viticulture, soaking up all there is to know about the nectar of the gods. Currently kickin' it in the winery for my third vintage, honing my craft and living the Hunter Valley dream. Catch me swirling, sipping, and spreading the love for all things wine!

Hi I'm Paul, I came to Pepper Tree two years ago to work in the vineyard which worked well with my farming background. After 4 months I moved into the winery as they were short staffed, and having had previous experience of four vintages I fitted in great with plenty of banter with the other staff . I became BBQ chef, and all the guys enjoyed their steak sangers, egg and bacon roll and the famous beer chicken, all complemented with awesome wine . I enjoy the Alluvius Sem with the chicken and a Coquun Shiraz with the steak. I've really enjoyed this vintage and the wines are looking really good, can't wait to get into the 2024 wines.

Harvest 2024 Wrap CORDELIA PATRICK PAUL

I hold the position of Winemaker for the Pepper Tree team. My journey into the wine world began earlyI was born into a winemaking family and grew up on our vineyard in the Barossa Valley. At the age of fifteen I began helping my father make his wine and very quickly I was captivated. After my studies I spent eight years working for Yalumba, while also continuing work with the family vineyard and winemaking. In 2022 I decided to expand my horizons and move to the Hunter Valley.

I grew up in Canada, and moved to the Hunter in 2018. I fell into the wine industry by accident, relying on my hospitality background as an entry point into the cellar doors of the Hunter Valley. My passion for learning and unending curiosity has seen me through experiences in the cellar door, vineyard, and now the winery, with Peppertree as my second vintage. My dream is to hop back and forth between vintage in Canada and Australia, and explore the world of wine in both the countries I call home!

Wrap V24 NICK KAYLA

After a busy few months in the winery, our 2024 Vintage crew took a breather to share a bit about themselves: get to know the magic makers behind your favourite wines!

New at the Cellar Door

Crafted with precision and passion, each bottle tells a unique story, inviting you to explore a journey of flavour like never before. From crisp whites to bold reds, discover the perfect companion for every occasion. Elevate your wine experience and indulge in the extraordinary with our Alternate Series Wines, now available at our Cellar Door.

Step into a world of taste and elegance with our newest edition to the Cellar Door: the current vintages of our Alternate Series Wines.

2018 PLATINUM RANGE ‘Coquun’ Shiraz Hunter Valley

2018 SINGLE VINEYARD ‘8R’ Merlot Wrattonbully

2018

‘Elderslee Road’ Cabernet Sauvignon Wrattonbully

June

Harvest Luncheon 1

Saturday 29th June

Muse Restaurant—Pokolbin NSW

July

Harvest Luncheon 2

Saturday 6th July

Muse Restaurant—Pokolbin NSW

2024 EVENTS CALENDAR

August

Q4 Winemakers Table Luncheon

Saturday 17th August

PTW Winery Barrel Room, Pokolbin NSW

November

Q4 & Members’ Harbour Cruise, On board Captain Cook 3

Saturday 16th November

Sydney Harbour—Sydney NSW

86 Halls Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320 Phone 02 4909 7100 Freecall 1800 655 965 ptwclub@peppertreewines.com.au peppertreewines.com.au

Keep an eye out for your invite!

All event invitations are sent out 6 weeks prior to the event. Q4 Members receive priority notification & access. Due to the extremely high and growing demand, some events may have set ticket limitations per membership. Event details subject to change.

The Best of Four Worlds Tasting Experience.

At Pepper Tree, we pride ourselves on growing grapes in some of Australia’s best winemaking regions. The climates and soils of our four estates create unique flavours in the wines they produce. This, coupled with the passion and science our people bring to the process, mean we’ve become one of Australia’s most highly awarded boutique winemakers. Our properties in the Hunter Valley, Orange, Wrattonbully and Coonawarra all bring unique personalities to the family.

The Best of Four World’s tasting experience will give you access to our private tasting area in The Vault. Here you will taste a pre-selected collection of current vintage wines and their aged counterparts, so you can appreciate the magic of bottle ageing first-hand.

$ 30.00 PER PERSON

We bring together four provenances under one passion. From our home to yours, we bring you the best of four worlds.

Tastings by appointment ~ please visit our bookings page: peppertreewines.com.au/experiences

EVERYONE'S FAVOURITE: THE FAMOUS 'MYSTERY WINE' GAME

DID SOMEONE SAY 'PRIZES'?!

PRE-RELEASE WHITES, FRESH FROM THE WINERY

EARLY ACCESS TO PRE-RELEASE REDS

ENJOY LIVE MUSIC BY NICK SAXON

Harvest Lunches 2023

2024 TICKETS AVAILABLE GET IN QUICK!

Look at all the fun we had last year at our annual Harvest Lunches, don’t miss out this year!